NEW DELHI: The stage was formally set on Wednesday for a Narendra Modi-Rahul Gandhi combat in 2014 with the Gujarat chief minister showcasing his track record and governance vision before a youth audience in the Capital. The contents of Modi's speech — an insider speaking about the deficiencies in the system and the way forward — was in stark contrast to Rahul Gandhi's 'outsider view' of the problems confronting his party and the country.

Modi, who has wrecked the prime ministerial ambitions of his peers in BJP with his hat-trick win in Gujarat and who has emerged as the main face of BJP, used his Delhi address to send out the message that he has the wherewithal to take the country out of the deepening hole and address the demands of an aspirational India. In his address, he repeatedly rammed in the point that bad governance was the chief reason that inhibit the country and its people from realizing its actual potential. Sensing the growth unease in Middle India over lack of opportunities, Modi said his government in Gujarat has unleashed youth energy with "skill development, speedy decisions and scale of thinking".

Compared with Modi's speech, Jaipur address of Rahul Gandhi was seen by many as a statement of good intentions. The Congress vice-president, who has been engaged in discussions with senior party leaders, is yet to spell out tangible solutions to the problems he identified in Jaipur. His rivals have been maintaining that Gandhi is yet to come up with any big idea that can define his party policy-wise. "At a recent meeting attended by 'father of internet' Vinton G Cerf, Gandhi was asked by a student about how he can help educate illiterate children. His response was 'you got to stop asking your politicians, how they are going to do this or that and start asking yourself, how you are going to do it'. Compare this assertion with Modi's speech at SRCC and you will know who will gain traction," said a political observer, who did not wish to be quoted.

Modi, who plans similar political outings in the coming weeks, can be expected to use his rhetoric to sharpen the contrast between him and his Congress contender. Political observers feel that Modi's speech could find traction among the neo-middle class that now constitutes more than one-fourth of India's population. That Congress recognises that contest for this constituency would become more intense was evident when it capitulated before public opinion in the recent days and brought the ordinance that proposes severe punishment in cases of crime against women.

BJP leaders here said Narendra Modi has injected a new fire into the political message of the party that has of late fallen flat with voters. Modi is expected to formally take a bigger role after the BJP national council, which is meeting here on March 2 and 3. Modi will be made a member of the chief decision making body of the party, the parliamentary board. "He will formally take charge of the party's campaign after that," said a senior BJP leader.